[CQ-Contest] Not Another Contest Category

[Lee Hiers]

On 28 Jan 2002, at 10:44, Dave Hachadorian wrote:

> Well, you do need SOME equipment:
> Two BPF's @$250 = $500

Build coax stubs out of CATV hardline...they work great and are 
cheap.  Or, run low power where they're not needed as much.

> Antenna switch = $300

Don't use remote relay switches, use good ol' B&W, Daiwa, whatever 
switches.  You probably have spares lying around.

> Two radio box = $150

Nope...build a little headphone switcher for 10 bucks.  Use two LPTs 
or COMs for sending to each rig...TR will handle the TX switching 
side just fine, I presume NA, CT, and the others will as well.

> Second radio = $1000

Yep, a second radio is definitely needed.  But a lot (most?) of us 
already have an extra rig lying around the shack...use it.

> Second amp = $500

Only if you're running high power....and then it's not required.

> Decent antenna for each band. Cost varies, depending on what you
> already have.

Now that one is the biggie.  But if you've already got monobanders, 
you're in good shape.  Triband types will have to put some more 
thought into it.

> So, about $3000 should do it, maybe less, if you have
> some of the stuff already, or want to build your own switches
> and two radio box. 

For additional cost over what I already had, when I first tried SO2R, 
the added monetary cost was....um.....zero.  I had an old rig and 
some switches in the junk box.  They worked just fine.  I used a 
spare keying interface that I'd already built.  I used a tribander 
and separate antennas for 40 and 80 and dedicated the second rig to 
40 meters.  For a contest like SS from here, it works great.  I think 
my first SO2R operation resulted in working about 75 extra Qs.

Now, I've since added to the station and spent more money, but it's 
surely not required.  No more than stacked monobanders are required 
to operate contests.  Some SO2R stations are better equipped than 
others...some SO1R stations are better equipped than others....wow.

Yes, in the right hands, going SO2R is some advantage, but operator 
skill is a much bigger part of the puzzle.  Heck, for some folks the 
second radio is more of a distraction than a help and going SO2R for 
them will result in *lower* scores.

I guarantee you that N5TJ could come here and operate SO1R while I 
operate SO2R from the biggest station out there and Jeff would beat 
the pants off me.  

Single op is one operator transmitting one signal with whatever 
equipment he can put together...always has been, always should be.

> SO2R capability will move you up a few places in the standings.
> For some people, that's important. For some it's not.

That's true.  The thing about SO2R that really makes it attractive is 
that it's more fun!  Like K4OJ said...all that time listening to 
yourself CQ is boring, use it for something productive!  And you can 
do it without spending an arm and a leg.

73 de Lee


--
Lee Hiers
Indiana Dept. of Revenue


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